Informal trilateral meet a pleasant coincidence: PM Dahal

Kathmandu / Oct 17: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said his informal meet together with the Chinese President and the Indian Prime Minister in course of the BRICS-BIMSTEC Outreach Summit was a pleasant happenstance.

During a press briefing at Tribhuvan International Airport following his return from India after participating in the outreach summit, Prime Minister Dahal, on Monday, said he was at the waiting room after the formal meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Later the Chinese President appeared in the waiting room and he was followed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after a while. It was a mere coincidence. Informal, open- ‘one-on-one’ talks were underway with Chinese President when Indian PM Narendra Modi entered the room.

“Anyway, I got the chance again to reiterate the trilateral cooperation, reminding that Nepal is a small country sandwiched by the big ones. Both of them took it positively,” he said, adding that they were positive on his sharing that the important touristy issues relating to Buddha, Janaki and Pashupati have bound the three countries for long, similar connections are created by science and technology. “Nepal wants to reap benefit from the economic developments in the neighbouring countries,” he underscored.

Chinese President interested to visit Nepal

According to him, during the meeting with Chinese President Xi, issues of friendly relations based on the panchasheel, bilateral interests and implementation of past agreements were discussed. “When I requested again for his visit to Nepal, he showed interest on it,” informed the PM to media.

Joint monitoring mechanism soon

The Prime Minister also reminded that during his meeting with the Indian PM Modi, discussion was held on the imminent visit of the Indian President to Nepal, timely completion of the projects run with bilateral cooperation, and the implementation of the agreements made during his visit to India as formation of a joint monitoring mechanism to inspect and evaluate the projects funded by Indian assistance.

Meanwhile, he shared that intensive discussion was held for the common interests and progress of the BRICS and BIMSTEC member states.

Currently, Nepal is the Chair of the BIMSTEC, and willing to hold the 20th BIMSTEC Summit.

“During the address in the BRICS-BIMSTEC Outreach Summit, I stressed that BIMSTEC’s priorities largely cover with those of BRICS. In a larger forum, the BIMSTEC and BRICS could better coordinate common views in global norm setting including through the reform in global governance architecture reflective of current realities,” he added.

Similarly, he stressed that BRICS members offer inspiring model of developmental transformation. He lauded that freeing million of people from the vicious circle of poverty in the past two decade was undoubtedly and extraordinary accomplishment for BRICS.

PM Dahal was received by Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bimalendra Nidhi, and Speaker Onsari Gharti. RSS